Outer case intended for a case for a stick of material to be applied, such as a stick of lipstick, case/outer case assembly and stick of material thus packaged

ABSTRACT

An outer case ( 1 ) specially designed and intended to be joined to a case ( 2 ) for a stick ( 3 ), in particular a stick of lipstick, includes: an elongate body, including an elongate housing ( 5 ) for receiving the case ( 2 ), for the case to slide with respect to the body, and for the case to pass through a transverse opening ( 7 ) so as to be able to be removed from and introduced into the housing ( 5 ), and a manually controlled driving mechanism ( 10 ) that is able and intended to slide the case with respect to the housing in order to be removed. The elongate body also includes a lateral opening ( 11 ) formed in the body and the driving mechanism ( 10 ) includes a flexible and inextensible strip ( 12 ) attached to one side of the body, and, by traction, acting on the case so the latter can be removed from the housing.

The invention concerns the field of packaging for sticks of material to be applied by friction, particularly a stick of lipstick or similar item. It relates to an outer case for a case of such a stick of material to be applied, a case/outer case packaging which includes the outer case, and finally the product comprising the stick of material so packaged.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A case for a stick of material to be applied by friction, particularly a stick of lipstick, conventionally comprises a body and a cap.

The body is elongate and firstly comprises an elongate housing of generally cylindrical shape, with an opening at the proximal end and a longitudinal guide element for the stick as it slides, adapted for receiving the stick of material, which is slidable relative to the housing and can protrude from its end.

The body secondly comprises a manually controlled driving mechanism, typically rotatable and located towards the distal end of the body, the mechanism thus being adapted for sliding the stick of material relative to the body and to its housing in order to extend or retract it through a proximal opening.

The cap is removable, and is adapted to be mounted on the body at its proximal end portion; its function is to cover the housing and protect the stick of material when the stick of material is not in use.

Most often, the case as seen externally by the purchaser or user has two separate parts identifiable as the body and the cap.

During use, typically the case is gripped by the hand so that the cap is at the top and the mechanism is at the bottom, and the case is opened by moving the cover upwards relative to the body.

In the field of cosmetics, packaging is a decisive factor for customers in the act of purchasing and contributes to the attractiveness and perceived quality of the product.

EP 1721543 proposes the addition of an outer case, referred to in that document as a storage unit, onto a lipstick case. The outer case comprises an ejection system with a spring. The entire case is inserted into the outer case where its rear face remains accessible, and is locked therein. The outer case is provided with an ejection spring system so that pressing the rear face of the case causes the case to partially protrude from the outer case, and when thus released from the outer case can be grasped and completely removed from the outer case.

When not in use, only the outer case is visible to the customer, giving a smooth, distinctive appearance compared to products with a visible separation between cap and body.

However, in that embodiment, the number of parts to manufacture and assemble increases the packaging costs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention offers a solution, in particular for lipstick cases.

This solution can be used for sticks of material to be applied by friction other than sticks of lipstick, in the cosmetics industry and other sectors.

More particularly, the invention aims to create a sense of mystery and surprise, as the lipstick case is not used conventionally with the cap oriented upward and moved upward relative to the body to open it, and to do so while not increasing costs.

A description of the invention as characterized in the claims is provided below.

According to a first aspect, the invention relates to an outer case specially adapted and intended to be associated with a case for a stick of material to be applied by friction, in particular a stick of lipstick. The outer case comprises:

-   -   a body that is elongate along a main axis, including an elongate         housing, having a side wall, a transverse opening at a first         end, a transverse wall at a second end, a longitudinal guide         element for the case when sliding relative to the body, adapted         for receiving the case, for its sliding relative to the body,         for its passing through the transverse opening so that it can be         removed from the housing and introduced into the housing, and         further comprising a side opening provided in the side wall,     -   a manually controlled driving mechanism, adapted for sliding the         case relative to the housing to allow its removal, which         comprises a flexible and inextensible strip attached at one end         to the body in an attachment area, the strip being adapted for         association with the case and, when traction is applied, acting         on the case so that the case can be removed from the housing,         the flexible strip having an internal portion arranged within         the body, passing through the side opening of the body and         having a portion external to the body forming a element for         gripping and pulling the strip.

Thus the outer case offers a new and attractive presentation, at lower cost, for the packaging of stick-type products.

According to one embodiment, the longitudinal distance along the main axis, between the transverse wall and the opening in the side wall, is greater than or equal to the longitudinal distance between the transverse wall and the attachment area for securing the strip to the body, regardless of the position of the case within the outer case.

The sliding of the case relative to the housing is thus facilitated.

Advantageously, the housing comprises a receiving space, able to be completely filled by the case and to contain the case in its entirety, and at least one free space adjacent to the receiving space and to the side opening.

Friction on the strip is reduced, facilitating the sliding of the case within and relative to the outer case when the strip is pulled.

In one embodiment, the housing comprises two portions, a first portion referred to as the wide portion, having a cross-section with internal dimensions greater than those of the cross-section of the second portion referred to as the narrow portion, the transverse dimension of the two cross-sections being adapted for guiding the sliding of the case along a determined length.

In this case, for example, the body comprises two hollow parts, rigidly fixed to one another, a first part referred to as the upper part comprising a portion of the side wall of the housing and a second part referred to as the lower part comprising the transverse opening of the body, the rest of the side wall then forming the wide portion, and a side wall forming the narrow portion with external transverse dimensions that are smaller than the internal transverse dimensions of the side wall, so that there is a free space between the upper part and the lower part, and the side opening is positioned in the portion of the side wall provided by the upper part and facing the side wall of the narrow portion, with the flexible strip able to pass through the free space so created.

In one embodiment, the external portion of the strip is provided with a pull-tab type gripping element.

In one embodiment, the longitudinal guide element for sliding comprises a hollow intermediate part forming a housing for the case, said intermediate part being mounted so as to slide within the elongate body, and having a transverse opening on the same side as the transverse opening of the body, the internal portion of the flexible strip being in contact directly or indirectly with the intermediate part on a side opposite its transverse opening.

In one embodiment, the internal portion of the strip is attached to the intermediate part.

In one embodiment, the internal portion of the strip is attached to the side wall of the body.

In this case, advantageously, the housing comprises a receiving space able to be completely filled by the case and to contain it in its entirety as above, and comprises two free spaces adjacent to the receiving space, free meaning they are not intended to be filled by the case, a first free space adjacent to the side opening and a second free space adjacent to the attachment area.

According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a packaging for a stick of material to be applied by friction, in particular a stick of lipstick, comprising an outer case as presented above and a case suitable for containing the stick, the case being associated with the flexible strip and the case being able to assume two extreme positions by sliding on the longitudinal guide element, for sliding, of the outer case:

-   -   a retracted position where the case is completely housed within         the body,     -   an extended position where the case comprises at least a portion         protruding from the body through the transverse opening.

According to one embodiment, the case comprises a cap mounted so as to slide within the outer case on the longitudinal guide element for sliding, the flexible strip being in contact directly or indirectly with the cap, and the case comprises a body adapted for containing the stick.

In one embodiment, the body of the case comprises a supplemental mechanism for accessing the stick.

According to a third aspect, the invention relates to a product, particularly a cosmetic product, comprising a stick of material to be applied by friction, the stick being contained within a case of a packaging as presented above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings of the figures will now be briefly described.

FIG. 1 is a diagram corresponding to a perspective view of an outer case according to a possible embodiment of the invention, an external portion provided with a visible pull-tab on which no action is being performed.

FIG. 2 is a diagram corresponding to a longitudinal section view of a product comprising a stick such as a stick of lipstick placed in a packaging comprising the outer case of FIG. 1 and a case, the case being in a retracted position, the pull-tab ready to be gripped and pulled.

FIG. 3 is a diagram representing the product of FIG. 2 with the case in an extended position.

FIG. 4 is a diagram corresponding to a perspective view of the packaging of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Below is a detailed description of several embodiments of the invention, accompanied by examples and with reference to the drawings.

The invention relates to an outer case 1 specially designed and intended to be associated with a case 2 for a stick 3 of material to be applied by friction, in particular a stick of lipstick, a packaging 4 comprising the outer case 1 and corresponding case 2, and a stick 3 packaged in such a packaging.

“Associated” is understood to mean that the outer case 1 and case 2 each have complementary shapes and sizes, allowing the case 2 to be inserted into the outer case 1.

The outer case 1 containing the case 2, which itself contains the stick 3, provides a packaging that is particularly attractive to customers, due to the fact that it differs from other packaging in its appearance and in the manner in which it is operated.

The outer case 1 comprises an elongate body 4, preferably cylindrical with main axis A, which includes a housing 5 that is also elongate.

In what follows, “longitudinal” will be used to designate any direction parallel to the main axis A, and the term “transverse” will apply to the directions perpendicular to the main axis A.

More specifically, the housing 5 is delimited by a side wall 6 extending longitudinally between a transverse opening 7 at a first end of the body 4 and a transverse wall 8 at a second end of the body 4.

The body 4 may have, as shown in the figures, a generally cylindrical shape with a square base, in other words a rectangular parallelepiped. However, the body 4 can have any other suitable shape, particularly cylindrical with a circular base, in other words tubular.

The housing 5 is provided with a longitudinal guide element 9 for the sliding of the case 2 relative to the body 4. The guide element 9 is adapted for receiving the case 2, for allowing it to slide relative to the body 4, and for allowing it to pass through the transverse opening 7 so it can be removed from the housing and introduced into the housing 5.

For example, the guide element 9 is formed by the side wall 6 of the housing 5. For this purpose, the side wall 6 is substantially smooth and the case 2 also has a smooth surface, allowing the sliding to occur easily. In addition, the transverse dimensions of the housing 5 correspond substantially, possibly with some clearance, to the transverse dimensions of the case 2. The outer surface of the case 2 can thus be in contact with the side wall 6. Friction between the outer surface of the case 2 and the side wall 6 is low enough that the sliding can occur when force is exerted manually by a user.

The outer case 1 further comprises a manually controlled driving mechanism 10, adapted for sliding the case 2 relative to the housing 5 in order to remove the case 2. Thus, when the driving mechanism 10 is actuated, the case 2 slides within the housing 5 of the outer case 1 and exits through the side having the transverse opening 7.

In addition, the outer case 1 comprises a side opening 11, formed in the side wall 6. The driving mechanism 10 then comprises a flexible and inextensible strip 12, adapted to be associated with the case 2 within the housing 5.

“Strip” is used herein to mean any element having a very large main dimension compared to the other two dimensions. The term “strip” is in no way limiting of the shape. In particular, the cross-section of the strip 12 may or may not be constant. As an extreme, the strip 12 may be a wire.

“Flexible” is used herein to mean that the strip 12 has the property of bending easily when force is exerted manually by an operator under normal usage conditions of the invention, without the strip 12 being damaged after bending.

“Inextensible” is used herein to mean that the strip 12 has the property of retaining its full length despite the manual application of tensile force by an operator, under normal usage conditions of the invention.

“Associated” is used herein to denote any relationship between the strip 12 and the case 2, so that an action exerted on one of these elements causes an effect, directly or indirectly, on the other element.

The strip 12 may be made of any suitable material such as polymer, metal, or a woven or nonwoven fabric.

The flexible strip 12 comprises an internal portion 13 arranged within the body 4, and attached to the body 4, meaning that the strip 12 is directly or indirectly secured to the body 4. The strip 12 passes through the side opening 11 in the side wall 6 to provide a portion 14 external to the body 4, forming a element for grasping and pulling the strip 12.

The strip 12 and the side opening 11 are arranged such that, the external portion 14 of the strip 12 is pulled, this biases the case 2 in a manner that allows its removal from the housing 6.

In other words, by exerting force on the strip, the association between the strip 12 and the case 2 causes the sliding movement of the case 2 within the body 4 of the outer case 1. For example, the association between the strip 12 and the case 2 is implemented as a direct or indirect contact between the strip 12 and the case 2.

Thus, the case 2 can assume two extreme positions by sliding within the housing 5:

-   -   a retracted position where the case 2 is completely housed         within the body 4,     -   an extended position where the case 2 has at least a portion         emerging from the body 4 through the transverse opening 7.

The free end of the external portion 14 of the flexible strip 12 may be provided with a pull-tab type of gripping element 15, making it easier to grasp when pulling on the strip 12.

The case 2 will now be described in more detail.

In general, the case 2 comprises a body 16 within which the stick 3 is secured by means not shown in the figures. The body 16 of the case 2 has a closed bottom 17 at a first end, and at a second end opposite the first end is has an opening 18 through which the stick 3 is accessible. In one embodiment, the case 2 is a lipstick case, and the body 16 comprises supplemental means for accessing the stick 3. For example, the body 16 of the case comprises a rotary portion, actuating a screw which slides the stick 3 relative to the body 16 of the case 2 and causes the stick 3 to protrude through the opening 18.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the case 2 further comprises a cap 19.

In order to be able to receive the case 2, the housing 5 and the case 2 have substantially complementary shapes and dimensions.

More particularly, the strip 12 is attached to the body 4 in an attachment area 30, which may be provided for example on the inner surface of the side wall 6 of the housing 5, or as seen below, by an intermediate part. A first distance is defined, denoted L₁, which is longitudinal and corresponds to the distance covered along the main axis A, between the transverse wall 8 of the body 4 and the side opening 11 of the body 4. Specifically, the first distance L₁ is measured between the transverse wall 8 of the body 4 and a middle axis of the opening 11. A second longitudinal distance is also defined, denoted L₂, between the transverse wall 8 of the body 4 and the attachment area 30. The first longitudinal distance L₁ is then determined so that, regardless of the position of the case 2 within the outer case 1, it is greater than the second longitudinal distance L₂. The attachment area 30 is thus always above, or transversely aligned with, the side opening 11. In other words, the spacing E between the attachment area 30 and the transverse wall 8, corresponding to the difference between the first distance L₁ between the transverse wall 8 of the body 4 and the side opening 11 of the body 4 and the second distance L₂ between the transverse wall 8 of the body 4 and the attachment area 30, does not change sign during the transition from the retracted position to the extended position of the case 2, or at most it cancels itself out.

The term “above” is to be understood here and in what follows as being relative to the natural orientation of the appended figures, in which the transverse wall 8 is above the transverse opening 7, and the main axis A is a vertical axis.

It is possible for the housing 5 to have a receiving space 31 that is completely filled by the case 2 in the retracted position, and into which the case 2 in the retracted position extends completely. In other words, the case 2 in the retracted position is completely contained within the receiving space 31, and no portion of the case 2 is located outside the receiving space 31. The receiving space 31 corresponds to the portion of the housing 5 that is occupied by the case 2 in the retracted position. In addition, the housing 5 has at least one free space 32, 33, adjacent to the receiving space 31 and adjacent to the side opening 11, and which is not entered by the case 2 in the retracted position. In other words, the free space 32, 33 is intended to remain empty and not to be occupied by the case. The free space 32, 33 has dimensions adapted so that, when the case 2 is in the retracted position within the outer case 1, the section of the strip 12 that is within the free space 32, 33 is not in contact with the case 2. More specifically, the transverse dimension of the free space 32, 33 is greater than the thickness of the strip 12.

Thickness is used herein to mean the dimension of the strip 12 other than its length in the longitudinal plane, parallel to the main axis A, which is the plane of FIGS. 2 and 3.

Thus, for the strip 12 to pass through the side opening 11, it traverses the free space 32, 33 in a manner such that within the free space 32, 33 the strip does not touch the case 2, and therefore does not rub against the case 2 when the user pulls on the strip 12.

A first embodiment of the outer case 1 and the corresponding case 2 is now described.

According to the first embodiment, the attachment of the strip 12 to the body 4 is achieved by rigidly fixing the end of the internal portion 13 to the inner surface of the side wall 6 of the housing 5. The strip 12 is thus secured directly to the body 4. The end of the internal portion 13 of the strip 12 can be attached, for example, by gluing or by overmolding the body 4 onto the strip 12.

For example, the housing 5 comprises two portions forming part of the guide element 9 for the case 2. A first portion 20, referred to as the wide portion, extending for example from the side opening 7 of the body 4, has transverse dimensions greater than those of the second portion 21, referred to as the narrow portion. For this purpose, in one example the body 4 is formed of two hollow parts 22, 23, rigidly attached to one another, for example by gluing or by heat sealing or by overmolding, meaning that the two hollow parts 22, 23 cannot have any movement relative to one another.

A first part 22, referred to as the upper part, comprises the transverse wall 8 and part of the side wall 6. The second part 23, referred to as the lower part, comprises the transverse opening 7 of the body 4 of the outer case 1, the rest of side wall 6, thus forming the wide portion 20, and a side wall 24 forming the narrow portion 21. The lower part 23 is open from end to end, meaning that in addition to providing the transverse opening 7 of the body 4 of the outer case 1, it also includes a second opening 25 opposite the side opening 7. A shoulder 26 is thus formed between the wide portion 20 and the narrow portion 22, substantially at mid-height along the main axis A on the outer case 1.

Parts 22, 23 of the body 4 are rigidly fixed together, for example by gluing or heat sealing or by snap-fitting rings. An outer coating can then advantageously cover the body 4 to hide the seam between the two parts 22, 23.

The terms “lower” and “upper” are used here for purely explanatory purposes, referring to the natural orientation of the figures, and do not constitute limitations on the positions of the parts 20, 21 of the body 4.

In addition, for example, the external transverse dimensions of side wall 24 of the narrow portion 21 are less than the internal transverse dimensions of side wall 6, so that there is space between the upper part 22 and lower part 23. Thus, by placing the side opening 11 in the portion of side wall 6 supported by part 22 and facing side wall 24 of the narrow portion 21, the flexible strip 12 can pass through the space so created, preventing the internal portion 13 of the strip 12 from having an overly long unguided length which could become stuck for example between the case 2 and side wall 24 of the narrow portion 21. In addition, the strip 12 within the space between the two parts 22, 23 extends substantially along the main axis A, facilitating the sliding of the case 2 as will be explained below.

The case 2 thus has a shape complementary to that of the housing 5 with its two portions 20, 21.

More specifically, according to the first embodiment, the longitudinal guide is formed on the cap 19 of the case 2 and the strip 12 is in direct contact with the cap 19.

For this purpose, the cap 19 has transverse dimensions substantially equal to the transverse dimensions of the narrow portion 21, so that it can slide on its side wall 24 and be inserted into the housing 5. In addition, the cap 19 has an enlarged base 27, of transverse dimensions substantially equal to the transverse dimensions of the wide portion 20, so that it can slide on the side wall 6 of the body 4 of the outer case 1. In addition, it is possible, as explained below, for the cap 19 to have a large longitudinal dimension relative to the total longitudinal dimension of the case 2. Finally, the cap 19 has a rounded proximal end, which is facing the transverse wall 8 of the outer case 1 when the case 2 is in the retracted position. The distal end of the cap 19, opposite the proximal end, comprises an opening for placing the cap 19 on the body 16 of the case 2.

The internal portion 13 of the strip 12 is attached, as mentioned above, for example directly to the body 4. The strip 12 can be fixed to any point of the body 4, provided that a straight line, passing through the point of attachment of the strip 12 to the body 4 and the side opening 11, passes through the location where the case 2 extends into the housing 5 in the retracted position. This ensures that the internal portion 13 of the strip 12 comes into contact with the case 2 when the strip 12 becomes taut when the external portion 14 is pulled.

Due to the position of the attachment area 30 for securing the strip 12 to the body 4 relative to the side opening 11, the thrust force on the case 2 generated by pulling on the external portion 14 of the strip 12 is substantially directed in the direction of the transverse opening 7 of the body 4 of the outer case 1. The transition from the retracted position to the extended position of the case 2 is then obtained more easily, without requiring much pulling force on the external portion 14 of the outer strip 12, reducing the risk that the strip 12 will detach from the body 4 or break along its length.

In the first embodiment, the internal portion 13 of the strip 12 is, for example, fixed to the edge of the second opening 25 of the lower part 23, the attachment area 30 being diametrically opposed, relative to the main axis A, to the opening 11, such that the internal portion 13 of the strip 12 describes a circular arc with a central angle substantially equal to 180° when the case 2 is in the retracted position

Also in the first embodiment, the housing 5 has two free spaces 32, 33, one on each side of the receiving space 31 relative to the main axis A. More specifically, the housing 5 comprises a first free space 32 adjacent to the attachment area 30 where the strip 12 is attached to the body 4, and a second free space 33 adjacent to the side opening 11. Thus, the internal portion 13 of the strip 12 comprises at least two sections 13 a, 13 b that have no contact with the case 2.

More specifically, in the described example where the body comprises two parts 22, 23, the strip 12 passes through the second free space 33 created between the upper part 22 and lower part 23, the portion 13 b of the strip 12 in this space preferably being away from the walls of the upper part 22 and lower part 23. The strip 12 may be in contact with the edge of the second opening 25 of the lower part 23, and with the edge of the side opening 11. The receiving space 31 is delimited by the transverse dimensions of the narrow portion 21.

Between the two free sections 13 a, 13 b, the internal portion 13 of the strip 12 has a section 13 c in contact with the case 2, more specifically with the rounded proximal end of the cap 19 according to the example in the figures, which describes an arc with a central angle substantially equal to 180°.

To this end, the transverse dimensions of the housing 5 and the thickness of the strip 12 are selected relative to the transverse dimensions of the case 1 to allow the presence of the two free spaces 32, 33. More precisely, in the example where the attachment area 30 for the strip 12 is diametrically opposite the opening 11, the transverse dimensions of the housing 5 are defined to be strictly greater than the transverse dimensions of the case 2 within the housing 5 plus twice the thickness of the strip 12.

Thus, there are several sections of the internal portion 13 of the strip 12 which are protected from rubbing against the case 2. The force exerted by the user along the main axis A by pulling on the strip 12 to bring the case 2 to the extended position is reduced. The risk of the strip 12 breaking at some point along its length or in the attachment area 30 is then further reduced.

According to the first embodiment, when the case 2 is in the retracted position within the outer case 1, the bottom 17 of body 16 of the case is flush with the edges of the transverse opening 7 of body 4, so that the packaging comprising the case 2 and the outer case 1 can rest on the bottom 17. It is then invisible to a user. The cap 19 is completely inside the body 4. More specifically, the base 27 of the cap 19 abuts against the shoulder 26, and has a portion which emerges through the second opening 25 of the lower part 23 into the upper part 22, near the side wall 8. The internal portion 13 of the flexible strip 12 is then in direct contact with the cap 19.

Advantageously, the outer case 1 may comprise locking means for the case 2, so that it remains in the retracted position even under the effect of gravity. Alternatively, or in combination with the locking means, the contact between the cap 19 and the side walls 6, 24 of the housing 5 is such that gentle friction is generated, preventing the case 2 from sliding in the absence of biasing by the strip 12.

The external portion 14 of the strip 12 is accessible outside the body 4 of the outer case, in particular by means of the pull-tab 15. The pull-tab 15 forms a relief design on the outer smooth surface of the outer case 1 that catches the customer's eye, for example with an attached decorative bead bearing a brand or theme.

By pulling on the external portion 14 of the flexible strip 12 in a direction perpendicular to the main axis A, the strip 12 slides within the space created between the upper part 22 and lower part 23 and in the side opening 11 in a direction substantially parallel to the main axis A, generating forces on the case 2 along the main axis A. Thus the length of the internal portion 13 decreases as it slides on the cap 19, while the length of the external portion 14 increases. The rounded shape of the proximal end of the cap 19 facilitates the sliding of the strip 12, in addition to preventing damage to it. The internal portion 13 tends to flatten out over the second opening 18 of the lower part 23. The strip 12 is thus pulled taut and presses directly on the proximal portion of the cap 19, also generating forces on the case along the main axis A.

The forces along the main axis A thus generated on the cap 19 allow it to slide on the wall 24 of the narrow portion 21 and, by means of its base 27, on the wall 6 of the large portion 20.

The bottom 17 of the case 1 then passes beyond the edges of the transverse opening 7. Optionally, the forces generated must be sufficient to overcome the snap-fitted lock.

The sliding of the case 2 is thus guided at two levels of the cap 19, ensuring that the case 2 does not tilt within the outer case 1 as it slides. Sliding is then easy. In addition, the large longitudinal dimension of the cap 19 ensures that there is guidance throughout the sliding, meaning that the cap 19 is in contact with both the wall 24 of the narrow portion 21 and the wall 6 of the wide portion throughout the sliding between the retracted position and the extended position, further facilitating the sliding. The user does not need to exert a strong pulling force on the strip 12 to obtain the extended position, reducing the risk that the strip 12 will be torn or detached from the body 4.

The case 2 is thus in the extended position and the portion of the case 2 outside the body, which comprises the bottom 17, can be grasped by the user to withdraw the case 2 completely, meaning the body 16 and cap 19, from the outer case 1 in a movement along the main axis A. The stick 3 is accessed in a conventional manner by removing the cap 19 and possibly making use of supplemental means of access to the stick 3.

Once the stick 3 has been used, the user can replace the case 2 within the outer case 1 by pushing the case 2 into the housing 5 until the base 27 of the cap 19 abuts against the shoulder 16, which coincides with the position in which the bottom 17 of the case 2 is flush with the edges of the transverse opening 17. The cap 19 then comes into contact with the internal portion 13 and causes the reverse movement of the strip, meaning that the length of the internal portion 13 increases while the length of the external portion 14 decreases.

Alternatively, the case 2 does not comprise a cap, and the strip 12 is in contact with the edge of the opening 18 providing access to the stick 3. The outer case 1 then serves as a cap.

According to a second embodiment, the guide element 9 in the housing 5 of the body 4 further comprises an intermediate part 28 forming part of the longitudinal guide element 10. The intermediate part 28 is substantially identical in shape to the cap 19 of the embodiment described above. In particular, the intermediate part 28 also has a rounded proximal end, which comes in contact with the strip 12. One difference is that the intermediate part 28 is intended to remain within the outer case 1 when the case 2 is completely withdrawn from the outer case 1. In general, the intermediate part 28 has a transverse opening 29 on the same side as the transverse opening 7 of the body 4, with the strip 12 pressing against the intermediate part 28 on a portion opposite its transverse opening 29.

In the retracted position, the case 2 is inserted into the intermediate part 28. By exerting a pulling force on the strip 12, the internal portion 13 presses on the intermediate part, such that the strip 12 is indirectly in contact with the case 2. The intermediate part 28 then slides in the body 4, guiding the sliding of the case 2 to the ejected position. Thus only the body 16 of the case 2 emerges from the outer case 1; the user cannot access the intermediate part 28. The user grips the case 2 and withdraws it completely from the outer case 1.

The strip 12 can be fixed to the body 4 as above. The outer case 1 then comprises means for retaining the intermediate part 28 within the body 4, meaning for restricting its sliding and preventing it from exiting through the transverse opening 7.

Alternatively, the strip 12 may be secured to the intermediate part 28, since the latter remains within the outer case 1. The pulling force in the transverse direction exerted on the strip 12 is converted into sliding force along the main axis A by its slipping along the space between the upper part 22 and lower part 23, causing the intermediate part 28 to slide along the main axis A. Preferably, the strip 12 is attached to a side of the intermediate part 28 opposite the side opening 11, relative to the main axis A. The internal portion 13 of the strip 12 which is then in contact with the intermediate part 28 when the case is in a retracted position thus traces an arc having a central angle greater than or equal to 90°, such that a strip surface 12 is in contact with the intermediate part 28 and presses on the intermediate part 28 when the strip 12 is pulled, generating additional forces along the main axis A. Retention means may advantageously be implemented in this embodiment as well, so that when the user pulls on the case 2 in the extended position, the strip 12 does not come along with it.

In this case, to ensure that the attachment area 30 for securing the strip 12 is always above the side opening 11 of the outer case 1, the spacing along the main axis A between the attachment area 30 and the side opening 11 is defined such that, when the case 2 is in the retracted position within the outer case 1, it is greater than the maximum travel expected for the intermediate part 28 when placing the case 2 in the extended position.

The spacing E between the attachment area 30 and the side opening 11 tends to decrease as the case 2 slides within the outer case 1 to the extended position. The pull exerted by the user on the strip 12 is passed on to the intermediate part 28 as both a thrust force, directed substantially towards the transverse opening 7 of the body 4, and direct traction, because the strip 12 attached to the intermediate part 28 in the attachment area 30 pulls on the intermediate part 28 in the same direction as the thrust force, meaning towards the transverse opening 7 of the outer case 1.

In the second embodiment, the housing 32 comprises a free space adjacent to the side opening 11, for example formed between the upper part 22 and lower part 23 as described above.

As already stated, the case 2 may or may not comprise a cap 19. In the case where the case 2 does not comprise a cap 19, the intermediate part 28 of the second embodiment can advantageously serve as the cap within the outer case 1.

The outer case 1 can also serve as additional protection, to prevent use of the supplemental mechanism for accessing the stick 3. 

1-14. (canceled)
 15. Outer case specially adapted and intended to be associated with a case for a stick of material to be applied by friction, in particular a stick of lipstick, wherein the outer case comprises: a body that is elongate along a main axis, including an elongate housing, having a side wall, a transverse opening at a first end, a transverse wall at a second end, a longitudinal guide element for the case when sliding relative to the body, capable and intended for receiving the case, for its sliding relative to the body, for its passing through the transverse opening so that it can be removed from the housing and introduced into the housing, a manually controlled driving mechanism, capable and intended for sliding the case relative to the housing to allow its removal, wherein: the elongate body further comprises a side opening formed in the side wall, the driving mechanism comprises a flexible and inextensible strip attached at one end to the body in an attachment area, the strip being capable and intended for association with the case and, when traction is applied, acting on the case so that the case can be removed from the housing, the flexible strip having an internal portion arranged within the body, passing through the side opening of the body and having a portion external to the body forming an element for gripping and pulling the strip.
 16. Outer case according to claim 15, wherein the longitudinal distance along the main axis, between the transverse wall and the opening in the side wall, is greater than or equal to the longitudinal distance between the transverse wall and the attachment area for securing the strip to the body, regardless of the position of the case within the outer case.
 17. Outer case according to claim 15, wherein the housing comprises a receiving space, able to be completely filled by the case and to contain the case in its entirety, and at least one free space adjacent to the receiving space and to the side opening.
 18. Outer case according to claim 15, wherein the housing comprises two portions, a first portion referred to as the wide portion, having a cross-section with internal dimensions greater than those of the cross-section of the second portion referred to as the narrow portion.
 19. Outer case according to claim 18, wherein the longitudinal distance along the main axis, between the transverse wall and the opening in the side wall, is greater than or equal to the longitudinal distance between the transverse wall and the attachment area for securing the strip to the body, regardless of the position of the case within the outer case, and wherein the body comprises two hollow parts, fixed to one another, a first part referred to as the upper part comprising a portion of the side wall of the housing and a second part referred to as the lower part comprising the transverse opening of the body, the rest of the side wall then forming the wide portion, and a side wall forming the narrow portion with external transverse dimensions that are smaller than the internal transverse dimensions of the side wall, so that there is a free space between the upper part and the lower part, and wherein the side opening is positioned in the portion of side wall provided by the upper part and facing the side wall of the narrow portion, with the flexible strip able to pass through the free space so created.
 20. Outer case according to claim 15, wherein the external portion of the strip is provided with a pull-tab type gripping element.
 21. Outer case according to claim 15, wherein the longitudinal guide element for sliding comprises a hollow intermediate part forming a housing for the case, said intermediate part being mounted so as to slide within the elongate body, and having a transverse opening on the same side as the transverse opening of the body, the internal portion of the flexible strip being in contact directly or indirectly with the intermediate part on a side opposite its transverse opening.
 22. Outer case according to claim 21, wherein the internal portion of the strip is attached to the intermediate part.
 23. Outer case according to claim 15, wherein the internal portion of the strip is attached to the side wall of the housing.
 24. Outer case according to claim 23, wherein the housing comprises a receiving space, able to be filled by the case and to contain it in its entirety, and comprises two free spaces adjacent to the receiving space, a first free space being adjacent to the side opening and a second free space being adjacent to the attachment area.
 25. Packaging for a stick of material to be applied by friction, in particular a stick of lipstick, wherein the packaging comprises an outer case according to claim 15 and a case suitable for containing the stick, the case being associated with the flexible strip and the case being able to assume two extreme positions by sliding on the longitudinal guide element, for sliding, of the outer case: a retracted position where the case is completely housed within the body, an extended position where the case comprises at least a portion protruding from the body through the transverse opening.
 26. Packaging according to claim 25, wherein the case comprises a cap mounted so as to slide within the outer case on the longitudinal guide element for sliding, the flexible strip being in contact directly or indirectly with the cap, and wherein the case comprises a body adapted for containing the stick.
 27. Packaging according to claim 26, wherein the body of the case comprises a supplemental mechanism for accessing the stick.
 28. Product, in particular a cosmetic product, packaged, wherein the product comprises a stick of material to be applied by friction, said stick being contained within a case of a packaging according to claim
 24. 